Share of population urban in Tanzania
Tanzania: Share of population urban was 36.88 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
36.88
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
195th
of 236 countries
All-time high
36.88
in 2025
All-time low
3.69
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Share of population urban in Tanzania, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population urban in Tanzania is 36.88, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population urban in Tanzania peaked at 36.88 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.69, in 1950.
That places Tanzania 195th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population urban in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.69 | — |
| 1951 | 3.92 | +6.2% |
| 1952 | 4.13 | +5.5% |
| 1953 | 4.33 | +4.7% |
| 1954 | 4.49 | +3.9% |
| 1955 | 4.63 | +3.1% |
| 1956 | 4.74 | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 4.8 | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 4.84 | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 4.87 | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 4.89 | +0.4% |
| 1961 | 4.9 | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 4.92 | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 4.93 | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 4.95 | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 4.97 | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 5 | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 5.04 | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 5.19 | +3.1% |
| 1969 | 5.62 | +8.1% |
| 1970 | 6.26 | +11.5% |
| 1971 | 7.08 | +13.1% |
| 1972 | 8.03 | +13.4% |
| 1973 | 9.05 | +12.8% |
| 1974 | 10.11 | +11.7% |
| 1975 | 11.15 | +10.3% |
| 1976 | 12.13 | +8.7% |
| 1977 | 12.99 | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 13.68 | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 14.25 | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 14.77 | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 15.26 | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 15.72 | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 16.17 | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 16.59 | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 17 | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 17.4 | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 17.8 | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 18.19 | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 18.57 | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 18.93 | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 19.27 | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 19.59 | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 19.9 | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 20.21 | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 20.51 | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 20.82 | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 21.14 | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 21.47 | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 21.82 | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 22.19 | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 22.6 | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 23.03 | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 23.52 | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 24.08 | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 24.71 | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 25.37 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 26.07 | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 26.79 | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 27.5 | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 28.2 | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 28.87 | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 29.49 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 30.07 | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 30.64 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 31.21 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 31.76 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 32.3 | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 32.83 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 33.35 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 33.85 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 34.35 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 34.82 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 35.47 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 36.17 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 36.88 | +2.0% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 36.88 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.87, 73% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 36.88 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.89, 82% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.44 | 3.69 | 4.87 | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.04 | 4.89 | 5.62 | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.47 | 6.26 | 14.25 | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.75 | 14.77 | 18.57 | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.37 | 18.93 | 21.82 | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.59 | 22.19 | 27.5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.87 | 28.2 | 33.35 | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.26 | 33.85 | 36.88 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More population data for Tanzania
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.8793 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.36 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.8793 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6843 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 129,932 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.69 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.089 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.868 (2100)
- Population density 296.72 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 20.58 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population urban in Tanzania?
- Share of population urban in Tanzania was 36.88 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population urban recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 36.88 in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population urban recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.69 in 1950.
- How does Tanzania rank for share of population urban?
- Tanzania ranks 195th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population urban rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population urban. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).